Stabilisation of Tibial Fractures Flashcards
What % of long bone fractures affect the tibia?
20
Tibial #:
A) Common cause?
B) Common location?
C) How many are open?
A) Trauma
B) Mid diaphyseal
C) 10-20%
There is often what concurrent fracture with a tibia #?
When is fixation indicated?
- Fibula
Fixation if lateral malleolus involved.
Tibia #:
A) Animal age?
Young
In cats, what are tibia # prone to (2) and why (2)?
Delayed union/non union
Due to: Minimal soft tissue envelope and limited vascular supply
What muscles attach to the tibia? (4)
Quadriceps femoris
Biceps femoris
Caudal part of the sartorius
Cranial tibial
Shape of the proximal tibia?
Flat+triangle
Shape of distal tibia?
Half cylindrical
Blood supply to the tibia:
A) (2)
B) What are these derived from?
A) Nutrient a. + Periosteal vessels
B) Cranial tibial a.
Where is the nutrient foramen on the tibia?
Caudolateral edge of proximal 1/3 of the diaphysis
Tibia #:
What will help sustain medullary arterial supply when the principal nutrient artery is disrupted by fracture or surgery?
Anastomoses with metaphyseal arteries
Where does the Cranial branch of median saphenous artery and vein and saphenous nerve pass across on the tibia?
Diaphysis
Tibia #:
What are the pre treatment surgical planning things to consider (4)
- List all possible stabilisation options e.g., external coaptation, IM pin, IN, plate and screw, ESF.
- Rule outs e.g., no external coaptation for upper limb bones, no IM pin for radial fractures.
- Compare and contrast the choices e.g., costs, likelihood of complications, experience of surgeon.
- Decide on the best option (or an A, B, C list).
Why are distal diaphysis # of the tibia often open?
Minimal soft tissue coverage
CARE when palpating distal diaphysis # - why?
Do not create an open #
What needs to be done to an open tibia # whilst awaiting reapir?
External coaptation with a splint or modified Robert Jones bandage indicated to prevent additional injury
Xray positions for tibia #?
Medio-Lateral
CrCd (or CdCr)
Tibial diaphyseal fractures can be of what pattern? (7)
- Mostly mid-diaphyseal
- Incomplete
- Transverse
- Oblique
- Spiral
- Comminuted
- Segmental.
Most common # type of tibia diaphyseal #? (3)
- Oblique
- Spiral
- comminuted
Advantages of using bone plates for the stabilisation of tibial diaphyseal fractures?
Plates can be used for repair of almost all types of fractures of the tibial diaphysis
Very versatile
Easy approach to the tension band side of the bone (medial tibia) with minimal soft tissue dissection
Well tolerated by animals postoperatively.
Tension side of the tibia?
Medial
Which side of the tibia are plates normally applied?
Medial
Medial approach to the tibia:
A) Patient positioning?
Dorsal recumbency with the affected hindlimb suspended for draping.
Where is the incision made for a medial approach to the tibia?
Proximally over the medial tibial condyle, curve cranially to the midline of the tibia at midshaft and curve caudally to end near the medial malleolus.
What is ideally (not essentially preserved) on the medial approach to the tibia which runs across it? (2)
Saphenous vessels + nerve
Medial approach to the tibia, complete these sentences:
A) Incise the fascia along the borders of the ? (2) and retract the muscles to expose the bone.
B) Incise the crural fascia along the cranial border of the cranial tibial muscle from the ? to the ? of the muscle to expose the lateral cortex.
A) cranial tibial and medial digital flexor muscle
B) tibial tuberosity to tendinous portion
What retracted on the medial approach to the tibia to expose the shaft? (+ direction)
Retract the cranial tibial and long digital extensor muscles caudolaterally
When using hohmann retractors to expose tibia shaft - care not to damage what..?
Cranial tibial a